NFRS 2023 81 - Lithium-ion batteries

You asked for

We would like to investigate whether there has been an increase in fires caused by items that contain batteries (including lithium-ion batteries). For instance, toys, laptops, electric toothbrushes etc.

Therefore, under Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations, I would like to request the following information:

1. The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2021 to 31.12.2021.
2. The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2022 to 31.12.2022.
3. The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2023 to 30.10.2023.
4. The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2021 to 31.12.2021.
5. The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2022 to 31.12.2022.
6. The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2023 to 30.10.2023.

If possible, please can you detail what has caused the fire, or what is thought to have caused the fire so we can identify the source of the fire.

I would like you to provide this information in an excel document and have the data broken down by month per year so we can see if there are any spikes on particular months over the years. For instance, if there are any spikes in November, December or January when people may be clearing out homes in or around the Christmas period.

Our Response

1. The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2021 to 31.12.2021.
   Answer: - 1 incident in September 2021
2. The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2022 to 31.12.2022.
   Answer: - No Information Held, no records could be located relating to the above information.
3. The number of household fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2023 to 30.10.2023.
   Answer: - No Information Held, no records could be located relating to the above information.
4. The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2021 to31.12.2021.
   Answer: - No Information Held, no records could be located relating to the above information.
5. The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires caused (or thought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2022 to31.12.2022.
   Answer: - 1 incident – general household waste / recycling – spark from lithium battery decomposition.
6. The number of fires in dustcarts and waste-processing centres fires caused (orthought to be caused) by items containing batteries from 01.01.2023 to30.10.2023.
   Answer: -
   Waste Processing: 3 Incidents
   • Fire believed to have been caused by damage to mobile phone and battery.
   • Fire in bag splitting machine within recycling plant, probable cause lithiumbattery being punctured within machine and igniting clothing inside.
   • Fire in out building housing storage area for recycled lithium batteries andstoring equipment, fire started by batteries and spread to equipment.
   Dustcarts: 1 Incident
   • This was a paper shredding vehicle, most likely cause of ignition was a lithiumbattery going through the shredder.